Code of Conduct

Hack Cleveland's Code of Conduct

This document is adapted from Code for America's Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy.

Hack Cleveland activities and events:

1. Are a safe and respectful environment for all participants.

2. Are a place where people are free to fully express their identities.

3. Presume the value of others. Everyone’s ideas, skills, and contributions have value.

4. Don’t assume everyone has the same context, and encourage questions.

5. Find a way for people to be productive with their skills (technical and not) and energy. Use language such as “yes/and”, not “no/but.”

6. Encourage members and participants to listen as much as they speak.

7. Strive to build tools that are open and free technology for public use. Activities that aim to foster public use, not private gain, are prioritized.

8. Prioritize access for and input from those who are traditionally excluded from the civic process.

9. Work to ensure that the community is well-represented in the planning, design, and implementation of civic tech. This includes encouraging participation from women, people of color, LGBTQ people and other traditionally marginalized groups.

10. Actively involve community groups and those with subject matter expertise in the decision-making process.

11. Ensure that the relationships and conversations between community members, the local government staff and community partners remain respectful, participatory, and productive.

12. Provide an environment where people are free from discrimination or harassment.

Hack Cleveland reserves the right to ask anyone in violation of these policies not to participate in Hack Cleveland events or network activities.

Hack Cleveland's Anti-Harassment Policy

This anti-harassment policy is based on the example policy from the Geek Feminism wiki, created by the Ada Initiative and other volunteers.

This policy is based on several other policies, including the Ohio LinuxFest anti-harassment policy, written by Esther Filderman and Beth Lynn Eicher, and the Con Anti-Harassment Project. Mary Gardiner, Valerie Aurora, Sarah Smith, and Donna Benjamin generalized the policies and added supporting material. Many members of LinuxChix, Geek Feminism and other groups contributed to this work.

Hack Cleveland is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, skillset, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of staff, presenters, and participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any Hack Cleveland event, including talks. Anyone in violation of these policies may be expelled from Hack Cleveland events or network activities, at the discretion of the event organizers.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from hack cleveland events and network activities.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a Hack Cleveland organizer immediately: alert@hackcleveland.org or text 216-224-9557. Organizers will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event.

If you cannot reach an organizer and/or it is an emergency, please call 911 and/or remove yourself from the situation.

You can also contact Hack cleveland about harassment at safespace@hackcleveland.org and feel free to use the email template below. Hack Cleveland staff acknowledge that we are not always in a position to evaluate a given situation due to the number of events and the fact that our team is not always present. However, we are hopeful that by providing these guidelines we are establishing a community that jointly adheres to these values and can provide an environment that is welcoming to all.

We value your attendance and hope that by communicating these expectations widely we can all enjoy a harassment-free environment.

#### Email Template for Anti-Harassment Reporting ####

SUBJECT: Harassment alert at [EVENT NAME]

I am writing because of harassment at a Hack Cleveland event, (NAME, PLACE, DATE OF EVENT).